Tube clamps



p 1956 J. HAVILAND 2,764,438

TUBE CLAMPS Filed April 12, 1954 United. States Patent TUBE CLANIPSLyman J. Haviland, Mundelein, Ill.

Application April 12, 1954, Serial No. 422,568

4 Claims. 01. 287-54) My invention relates to the clamping of the endsof tubular sections of metal or plastics to the sides of tubular orsolid sections of posts, such as is required for fence rails and postsor other structural frameworks.

One object of the invention is to provide for use in fence structure orthe like an improved structural connection in which one end of a tubularelement is firmly joined to a support member by simple, economicalclamping means that is readily assembled to clamp simultaneously boththe tubular element and the support member.

A further object is to provide an improved structural connection of thecharacter recited in the above object in which substantially every partof the clamping structure, which might otherwise be unsightly, isconcealed within the tubular element, thus afiording a strikingly smartappearance.

Other objects and advantages will become apparent from the followingdescription of the exemplary forms of the invention illustrated" in thedrawing, in which:

Fig. 1 is a top sectional view along the lines 11 of Fig. 2, showing theends of two tubular rectangular rail sections attached horizontally to atubular round vertical post. Rail sections are shown to form a corner orright angle attachment.

Fig. 2 is a fragmentary side elevation of the vertical post and one railsection. The second rail section is indicated as an end sectional view.

Fig. 3 is a top sectional view along the lines 3-3 of Fig. 4, similar toFig. 1 except that the two tubular rail sections are shown attached inline to the vertical post.

Fig. 4 is a fragmentary side elevation of Fig. 3.

Fig. 5 is a top sectional view showing the termination of one horizontaltubular rail section attached to a vertical round post.

Fig. 6 is a top sectional view showing the termination of a horizontaltubular rail section attached to a vertical rectangular post.

Fig. 7 is a top sectional view showing the termination of a horizontaltubular rail section attached to a vertical round post with alternatedesign of clamp.

Fig. 8 is a top sectional View showing the termination of a horizontaltubular rail section attached to a vertical round post with furthervariation in the design of clamp.

Similar numerals refer to similar parts in all figures.

The method of clamping the tubular rail sections to vertical posts asillustrated in Figures 1, 2, 3 and 4 comprises a pair of opposing bandclamps 3 and 6 formed to partially surround the periphery of thevertical posts 12. One half of each pair of clamps is referred to as thepivot clamp 3. The other half of each pair of clamps is referred to asthreaded clamp 6. Opposite ends of each threaded clamp 6 are bentsharply at 1 in relation to adjacent portions of the clamp to formintegral outwardly extending clamping arms 7. The outer ends of the arms7 are provided with threaded holes 8 to receive machine screws 9.Similarly, each pivot clamp'3 has outwardly extending clamping arms 4 onopposite ends thereof sharply bent at 2 in relation to adjacent portionsof the clamp to extend outwardly in spaced parallel relation to the arms7. The arms 4 are provided with fulcrums 5 projecting from the sidethereof opposite the arms 7. See Figs. 1 and 2. The arms of each pivotclamp 3 and each opposing threaded clamp 6 are received inside the endsof tubular rectangular rails 11. The arms of threaded clamp 7 aresecured to the inside walls of rectangular rails 11 by means of machinescrews 9 in serted through holes 10 in said rails 11, and engagingthreaded holes 8 in said threaded clamp. The arms 4 of pivot clamp 3 arenormally held from contact with the opposite inside walls of rectangularrails 11 by engagement with the rail walls of the projecting fulcrums 5spaced somewhat from the adjacent bends 1 in the clamp and spaced asubstantially greater distance from the free ends of the arms. Thethreaded ends of machine screws 9 are shown in contact with thearms 4 ofpivot clamps 3, prior to seating of the heads of screws 9 against theoutside of rails 11. Tightening of the screws 9 further secures the arms7 of threaded clamp 6 to the inside of rails 11, and at the same timeforces the arms 4 of pivot clamp 3 against the opposing inside wall ofrails 11. Swinging of the arms about the fulcrums 5 simultaneouslycontracts the pivot clamp 3 around the periphery of vertical post 12.The completed clamped position with the head of machine screw 9 seatedsecurely against the adjacent outer surfaces of the rail 11 is indicatedin Fig. 5.

Fig. 5 shows a one piece band clamp 13 substantially surrounding avertical round post 12 terminating with outwardly extending arms; onearm 7 provided with threaded hole 8 and the opposing arm 4 provided withprojecting fulcrums 5.

Fig. 6 indicates a construction similar to Fig. 5 except that the bandclamp 14 is formed to surround a rectangular post 15 and bothterminating arms 4 and 7 are provided with projecting fulcrums 5. Intightening screw 9 both terminating arms 4 and 7 act to contract theband clamp 14 around post 15 while forcing the said terminating armsagainst the inside walls of tubular rail 11.

Fig. 7 shows a one piece band clamp 16 substantially surrounding avertical round post 12 and terminating with outwardly extending arms 7.Both arms 7 are provided with threaded holes 8 and projecting fulcrums5. In this construction two screws 9 are required; each screw to drawthe arms 7 in contact with inside walls of tubular rail 11 whilecontracting the band clamp around post 12.

In Fig. 8 the one piece band clamp 17 is provided with one threaded arm7 shown in contact with the inside wall of tubular rail 11. The opposingarm 4 is so formed to.

make contact only at the termination 18 of the opposing inside wall oftubular rail 11 and its end 19 is normally free of contact with saidinside Wall of tubular rail 11. in tightening screw 9 to force the end19 of arm 4 in contact with said inside wall a fixed fulcrum is providedat the point of contact 18 to contract the band clamp 17 around thevertical post 12.

It should be apparent that the rectangular tubular rail sections shownin the accompanying drawing could be round or other sectional shapes andthat the arms of the band clamps could be suitably shaped to fit. Thesevariation could be employed without departing from the underlyingprinciples of my invention.

Having thus described my invention, I desire by the following claims toinclude within the scope of the invention all such variations andmodifications which may be obtained through substantially the same orequivalent means.

I claim:

1. A clamped structural connection comprising, in combination, anelongated member, a' tubular member perpendicularto saidelongated memberand having one en dis s ina iacen s bs antia y nlanarrelatienro saidelongated member, clamping band means encircling said elongated memberup to the adjacent end of said tubular; member, said band meansincluding two adjacent endsegments bent, at sharpangles to the-adjacentportions ofthebandmeans to form clamping arms extending ingenerallyparallelrelation to each other into the'adjacentendof'saidtubular member, a fulcrum projection on the side of one ofsaid arms oppositefrom the other arm and spacedsomewhat from theadjacent bend at the base of the one-arm and spaced a greater distancefrom the free end of said one arm, a screw extending through saidtubular vmember and threaded through the free end of said other clampingarm to engagethe opposed free end portion of saidone clamping arm torock the latter about said fulcrum projection to simultaneously tightensaid bandmeans about said elongated member and press said clamping armsagainst the opposed inner surfaces of said tubularmember.

2. A clamped structural joint comprising, in combination, an elongatedmember, a tubular member generally perpendicular to said elongatedmember and having one end disposed in adjacent substantially coplanarrelation thereto, clamping band means closely encircling said elongatedmember and terminating in two generally parallel clamping arms extendinginto the adjacent end ofsaid tubular member, a fulcrum projection on oneof saidarms spaced a substantial distance from the free end thereof onthe side thereof remote from the other arm and engaging the inner end ofsaid tubular member, and screw means threaded into the free end of oneof said arms and engaging the other arm to spread the free ends of thetwo arms to cause simultaneous high leverage clamping of both of saidmembers.

3. A structural joint suitable for use in fence construction or thelike, comprising, in combination, an elongated member; a tubular memberdisposed at a sharp angle to said elongated member and having one enddisposed in adjacent, generally coplanar relation thereto; band meanssubstantially encircling said elongated member .andrhaving .adjacentendsterminating in clamparms bent sharply in relation to the adjacentportions of the band means and extending in generally parallel relationinto the adjacent end of said tubular member, said arms each having afulcrum projection on the side thereof opposite from the other arm andspaced somewhat from the bent base of the arm and spaeed-agreaterdistance from the free end of the arm; and screw means engaging the freeends of both arms inwardly, with-respect to said tubular member, fromsaid fulcrum projections for spreading said free ends away from eachother to simultaneously tighten said band means :around said elongatedmember and clamp said arms within said tubular member.

4. For use in clamping a tubular member to a support member, sheet metalband means having an intermediate segment adapted to substantiallyencircle a support member and having two end sections integrally joinedwith andbent sharply with respect to the respective opposite ends ofsaid member-encircling segment to form two opposed generally parallelclamping arms adapted to extend into the end of a'tubular member,threaded screw means coacting with the free'ends of said arms forspreading the latter :from each other, and at least one of said armshaving a fulcrum projection thereonon the side thereof more remote fromthe other arm and located along said one arm between and in spacedrelation to said screw means and the bent junction of said one arm withsaid member encircling band segment.

Reterences C-ited'inthe file of this patent UNITED STATES PATENTS1,028,092 Moore May 28, 1912.

1,830,558 Olson 'Nov. 3, 1931 1,832,584 Rogers Nov. 17, 1931 2,471,611Damstra May 31, 1949 FOREIGN PATENTS 530,012 Germany July 20, 1931

